This week “N” stands for Non Player Characters. That’s right – it’s time to finally step up and recognize the little guys! Your NPCs really do have names, ya know. They have feelings. But yeah, they can die too. Let’s see how Ben invites them into his game.
Can’t go to Gen Con this year? Boy, Ben sure can relate. He isn’t that far removed from being unable to attend the annual pilgrimage to our RPG Holy Land.
Your terrain ecosystem can’t survive without a fine collection of woody plants (otherwise known simply as trees). Let Ben be your forest guide as he explores a host of fun game table options.
We start our nature hike with Games Workshop. They were the first to really plant a firm seed within this category. Their tree sets work well but do shed a bit and usually require you to do your own basing.
Not every D&D accessory leaps out at you or is the size of the Colossal Red. This week Ben reviews some MBA must-haves including the Buddha and Bedroom Set.
You walk up and down Gen Con’s vendor hall – over and over again. Your eyes scan the booths like a lurking Predator and targeting Terminator. Where are thee? Show yourselves! Ben takes pride in this adrenaline-pumping hunt. It separates the Elves from the Half-elves.
Ben was ecstatic with a couple of beauties from Miniature Building Authority at Indy 2010. Thankfully, they’re now available from the company’s Direct Buy program. We’ll only be focusing on a few of ‘em but there’s a growing list of items for you to see.
First, the Buddha – it was Seinfeld-kitschy and had lots of fun uses. Picture it as a daunting temple statue, mysterious forest marker, or simple cave guardian. Plus, a Buddha always makes a man feel good.
Secondly, Ben grabbed a Bedroom Set. It contained two beds, a nightstand and a dresser. The beds are true gems: one is made and the other turned down. The furniture fits into any creature’s wooded cabin, remote farmhouse or humble residence.
Ben’s items were acquired pre-painted. For these kinds of micro-finds, that can be a rarity. If you’re smart, you can get ‘em though. Cons will often paint their prized items/molds for some customer shock and awe. The vendors just won’t sell them in great quantity and often charge a premium. Fair enough – nothing wrong with a little extra effort and currency if the product is done right.
Questions to Ponder: What’s the most unique thing you snagged at a Con? What do you wish you would have bought but passed on at the last second?
Tis the time of season to start thinking about holiday gifts for your gaming buddies. And Gelatinous Cube soap is a perfect choice.
The web is a gold mine of print and video tutorials which makes it easy to get your craft on (without becoming a dire Martha Stewart). You won’t need a ton of materials and the investment is minimal so no worries on denting your monthly game allowance.
You’ve got some nice usage options here. The cubes are classy décor for the nearby bathroom off your man cave/gaming room. Ben got his from his annual Gen Con game group gift exchange. Or, whip up a batch for your DM for all his/her hard work over the past year.
But what do you put in your cube’s hungry “belly?” Well…a retired d20, a choice Reaper metal mini (maybe even a dead PC), body/weapon pieces from your local game store’s bit box, or get creative and maybe even try a Hirst Arts block.
So, break up your terrain building routine and try your hand at a Gelatinous soap Cube or two. Besides, there always seems to be at least one guy around a D&D game table who needs to take a hint and actually use some soap. And remember – water alone does not make one smell better.
Questions to Ponder: What would you put in your cube’s core? After you master the soap cubes, will you move to Jell-o? Have you ever tried to make your own molds?
It’s certainly true that picking one’s next set of D&D dice has always been a science of sorts (psychologically speaking) but who knew manufacturing ‘em could be the same way?
Ben snagged a Paizo GameMastery Invisible Character Pack at Gen Con but isn’t sure the game accessory matters since he can’t figure out how Blind exactly works in 4E. So, let’s use this product review to try and uncover “the truth.”
First off, the Invisible character mini concept is a great idea – why not have a fun and interesting way to initially represent your character on the board in all its stealthy glory? The pack comes with a mix of 10 different character races (like the Dwarf) and classes (like the Human Wizard). It’s a shame there aren’t any medium or large versions though – maybe as a future expansion pack though.
While the invisible silhouettes are well done, the quality sorta stops at the bases. They’re a tad flimsy and slightly oversized for d20 squares (a huge pet peeve of Ben’s). Gale Force Nine offers a similar product in their Player Character Token Sets but you have to buy them individually instead of a single set.
So, let’s now use this opportunity to try and understand how being blind in combat works. Ben gave it the ol’ college try in a WotC forum thread but he felt the feedback left the rule clarification unresolved. It got really confusing in the comments.
Here’s what the new and very handy D&D 4E Rules Compendium says (pg. 221)
Confusing Rule #1: Targeting What You Can’t See – “Make a Perception Check: On its turn, the attacker can make a perception check as a minor action to try and determine the location of an invisible that is hidden from it.”
Ben’s Q: What is the attacker making a perception check against exactly (another skill, a DM DC, etc.)?
Confusing Rule #2: Close or Area Attacks – There’s no -5 total concealment penalty on a close or area attack.
Ben’s Q: Really? We think of blind as Stevie Wonder/Ray-Charles-duet blind and not post-eye-doctor-exam blind. How in the world would there be no penalty for adjacent attacks or throwing a ranged spell 10 squares? Only no penalty on a blast makes sense to Ben.
Confusing Rule #3: There’s no mention of how a blinded creature moves. Ben uses a yes/no and a scatter die combo to determine what squares you end up in while walking blind on the game board.
Ben might be overcomplicating this one but with no simple answer, his group has turned to a basic house rule on fighting blind. The character always takes a -5 attack penalty. It grants combat advantage and can’t flank. It can throw a range spell up to five squares in any direction (like a grenade) but nothing past that. For movement and ranged spell targeting, first roll a yes/no to determine if you have your bearings and if “no”, a scatter die moves/throws you in a random direction.
Whaddya think?
Questions to Ponder: Do you understand stealth or invisible 4e rules? What resources (book and page numbers) helped you play these rules right? Do you just do a simplified house rule to make it easier? Can you help Ben’s group understand fighting blind in battle?
It’s certainly true that picking one’s next set of D&D dice has always been a science of sorts (psychologically speaking) but who knew manufacturing ‘em could be the same way?
Ben’s observed GameScience dice from afar but never had the strength to actually purchase and use them in his own dungeons and dragons game.
Gamers are a stubborn bunch. This accessory swap can be a bit of a leap…especially if you’re superstitious. After all, a man’s own dice hold a special place in his RPG heart. And these dice are much different from the status quo. They weigh far less and look much different (but in a good way).
Still, Gen Con was the perfect setting to see GameScience dice in all their glory. Their booth was pretty amazing. You could order them (with white numbering paint included) and then just walk the floor until your crystally new set was done.
The lighter dice-weight-feel will certainly gnaw you at first but after a couple of sessions, that will wear off. Plus, they look pretty and roll even prettier. The white numbering on the huge array of color options makes them very, very easy to read.
Scientifically, GameScience dice are supposed to roll much more randomly which is all by their unique design (look closely for the subtle “nub”). We’ve included a couple a YouTube videos to help explain point. For Ben, it sounds good but honestly, who knows if any of it’s true.
The dice are typically sold in 12-piece sets and Ben plans on making these puppies an annual Gen Con purchase. So, if you’re just looking to break the table monotony or your current dice just let you down, GameScience dice deserve a spot in your precious dice bag.
Questions to Ponder: How many dice sets do you own? How often do you buy dice? Do you buy singles, sets or both? Do you share your dice? Do you have a guest dice bag? Will you eventually buy GameScience dice or do you already own a set? What’s your favorite color?
Get It | See It P1 | See It P2
It’s time to officially acknowledge GaleForce Nine as top booth pick of Gen Con 2010. They have a slew of 4E gaming products coming to a game table near you. It was a real treat to see them all in person at the Con. This week we turn our eyes toward their super handy effect markers (including fire, ice and smoke).
These multi-use effect walls give the DM a bundle of game options. Use them as a:
You can place them on the game board as single square pieces or as a row of three. The pieces assemble and re-assemble with ease so they fit nicely into any DM’s travel kit.
Again, Ben really wants to give props to GaleForce Nine for embracing 4E and releasing so many new innovative products. Our readers can expect to see many more reviews from this creative company over the next year. It’s like they’ve truly re-invented themselves – a wonderful sight to see, especially when other companies out there seem so slow to react 4E.
Questions to Ponder: How do you show game effects on your board? Did you create any fun house rules to go with them? Does the fire effect dominate in your game or have you found ways to give ice and smoke a chance?
The first campaign setting of D&D 4E is a blockbuster affair of intriguing mystery and ferocious combat. You won’t believe what lies ahead – well, that is if you survive long enough to see it.
Gen Con attendees got a real treat when Rodney Thompson and Rich Baker (anyone happen to know his Twitter address?) of Wotc R&D sat down with convention go-ers to reveal the ravaged world that is Dark Sun. Listen to this podcast before you crack those books open.
Ben’s RPG Pile played the upcoming World Wide Game Day module, The Lost Cistern of Aravek, which is coming to a game store near you on 8/21. If you plan on attending, it might be best to hold off on our Dark Sun review due to spoilers. If you can’t go, give our own video podcast of the game a try.
Enjoy our first Dark Sun impressions:
- Game Changer: There are enough differences in the regular 4E to make you stop and think. Ben was worried about creating confusion as he’s just starting to understand regular 4E but it’s a minor risk worth taking.
- Monsters Rule: The baddies from the Creature Catalog are vicious. Our fourth level party of five fought a level 6 solo skirmisher that could max its damage at 56 in a single round (along with some other nasty effects). Pretty brutal considering our characters averaged about 45 hp.
- Intensity Level: The battle tactics, unique terrain, and monster strength kept Ben on his toes – literally. If you ain’t standing around your table for much of Dark Sun, you’re really not playing (or are dead already).
- Classy Characters: The character sheets were immaculate. The artwork, the layout, the new abilities were all easy to spot and use. Get ready to read though – these classes are stuffed with options.
- New Terrain: Ben can turn his game board into a 3-D dungeon in a snap but a desert? Well, that’s a different story. DMs will need time to ramp up. Of course, Ben welcomes this new challenge.
Best of all, we recorded our Dark Sun initiation as part of our ongoing Friday Night Strike series. You can download all eight parts of our video podcast on iTunes. Consider it a helpful test drive.
Bottom line – Dark Sun is a sensational new 4E setting. You will absolutely love it. Well, what are you waiting for? Get down to your local game store, buy the books and try it firsthand. By the way, do you have any water to spare?
Questions to Ponder: Will you play Dark Sun? Why or why not? Would you run a Dark Sun campaign and a regular D&D 4E campaign simultaneously? What campaign setting do you want to see next?
“The vendor hall is now closed.” Sparkly new treasures rest on your shelf. C’est la vie Gen Con 2010.
But wait! Consider some small to-do’s now that could turn into future big fun.
- Sheet of Sadness: Did you keep a quick running notes’ list so you had an easy reminder sheet for next year? If not, now’s the time to strike while the memory iron is hot. Real-life Ben examples: (1) bring travel-size Pepto (thanks so much abnormally huge Ram Burgers). (2) download the Gen Con iPhone app before the show (since finding specific booths in those crowds was painful).
- Online Gallery: Upload your Gen Con pics to Facebook or Flickr now before you accidentally delete them. And make it easy for your game group to pull them down for their own collection.
- Thank You’s: Certainly you encountered some good gaming citizens or met some long-time heroes at the Con. What’s the harm in sending a quick tweet, email or wall post as a nice way to thank them for their hospitality or down-to-earthiness?
- Buddy Gifts: Set aside your game group gift now before it gets lost. Did you take a great buddy photo that fits nicely into a dollar store frame? Was there a t-shirt you nabbed that’s perfect for a holiday/birthday gift?
- Dire Piggy Bank: It is never too early to slowly start putting your gold coins away for next year. Did you have a little money left over? Excellent – put it in that cigar box now. Establish your reserve fund now for all that eventual loose change and birthday/holiday money. This is how Ben slowly amasses his spending money & it’s a major motivating force.
- Outlook Reminder: Gen Con 2011 is set for 8/4 thru 8/11. Enter in an outlook reminder January 26-ish so you’re prepared to call into the hotel block and nab that room right across the street from the convention center.
- Check the Tweets: Keep a close eye on Twitter and these common hash tags (#dnd, #gencon, #wotc) for all the great post Con articles and photos. It’s a virtual sea of D&D tranquility out there right now and you could be missing it.
- Inspiring Words: Start your own new list of goals for your game. If you weren’t inspired by all the amazing people you personally met and observed, it’s time to take a pulse and ensure you didn’t become undead during all those travel woes.
Questions to Ponder: What do you personally do now to help prepare for next year? Anything on our handy list that you find works well (or not so well)?
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